Episode 110

EPISODE 110
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

READING COMPREHENSION 

 

PLAYING GAMES

Brad wanted to become a professional sportsperson so when he was 9 years old he started playing football. He was a good player and when he was 18 years old he became a member of the national football team. Everything looked perfect. His team used to win matches and he would score a lot of goals (= get points). After some time his coach (= someone who trains a sports team) decided that he would become the captain of the team. Unfortunately, during one match Brad got injured (= hurt in an accident). At first everybody thought that was nothing serious but finally it turned out that he would have to give up playing football (= stop doing something). That was the end of his career as a footballer. Brad was depressed. He couldn’t accept the fact that he would never play football again and after six months he was found dead in his flat in Chicago. 

 

More contexts for the new words: 

• I jog to keep fit. (= to be healthy and strong)
• The final game attracted a crowd of 50.000 spectators. (= people who watch a public activity or event, especially a sports event)

 

EXERCISE 1 

Give words for the definitions:

1. a person who plays sport = a s……………………………
2. a person who watches an activity, especially a sports event = a s………………………….
3. a person whose job is to teach people to get better at a sport or a skill = a c………………
4. a person who is the leader of a sports team = a c………………..
5. someone who plays football = a f…………………….
6. a group of people who play a sport against another group = a t…………………
   

 

EXERCISE 2 

Complete the questions with the key words from the text. Then answer them.

1. What do you do to k……………… fit?
2. Have you ever g……………… injured? What happened?
3. Do you play football? Have you ever s……………… a goal?

ENGLISH IN USE  

This time we will focus on the difference between much, many and a lot of.

Much is used with uncountable nouns.

I haven’t got much money.

 

Many is used with countable nouns.

I haven’t got many friends.

 

A lot of is used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

I’ve got a lot of money.
I’ve got a lot of friends.

As you can see, we use much and many in negative sentences and a lot of in positive sentences.

Many and much are also used to make questions.

How much money have you got?
How many friends have you got?

IDIOM CLOSE-UP 

The new receptionist is really ON THE BALL when it comes to answering the phone.

If someone is on the ball, they are quick to understand what is happening and what must be done.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

1. If you WORK OUT, you do physical exercise to keep fit.

I like to work out early in the morning, because that’s when I have the most energy.

 

2. If you WARM UP, you do light or easy exercise to prepare for as sport or activity.

Let’s warm up with a short run.

 

EXERCISE 3 

Complete sentences with correct words:

1. I didn’t sleep well last night and I’m really not on the b……….. today.
2. Brad w…..……. out in the gym three times a week.
3. If you don’t w…..………. up before exercise, you risk injuring yourself.

 

 

NEWS

 

CHINA WANTS TO HAVE A WIMBLEDON CHAMPION

China is trying to become top in another sport by aiming for tennis. They already proved their strength as a sporting nation by getting a lot of medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Their new target is to produce tennis players good enough to be Wimbledon champions. If countries like Sweden, and more recently Serbia, can produce champs, then China has a great chance. They have the facilities and the determination to achieve their dream. One of the future hopes is 11-year-old Hao Huatian. He trains six days a week, has no school holidays and only sees his parents once a week. He has already won a national championship, and displays unusual focus for a player of his age.

 

GLOSSARY 

• aim for sth – hope to get sth
• target – something you try to get, achieve
• facilities – buildings, equipment, services used for a specific purpose
• display – show

 

download lesson (pdf)